In the pursuit of material platforms for the next generation of electronics,scientists are studying unique compounds such as topological insulators (TIs), which support protected electron states on the surfaces of crystals that silicon-based technologies cannot. Dramatic unique physical phenomena are being realized by combining this field of TIs with the subfield of spin-based electronics known as spintronics. The success within spintronics of realizing principal magnetic technologies such as the spin valve have increased the expectations that unique results in TIs might have near-term applications. However, and combining these two research threads has relied on "shoehorning" magnetism by forcing magnetic atoms to partially occupy elemental positions in TIs or by applying a conventional magnetic field. Realizing an integrated material that is both intrinsically magnetic and has a topological character has proven more challenging.
Source: phys.org